Celebrity Family Holiday Traditions

These stars make the season especially bright with their favorite family holiday activities ― and chances are you and your brood can do these, too.

Most celebs don’t need an excuse to go all out, so what do they do to make the holidays extra-special for their families? Turns out most famous moms and dads take a turn for the traditional ― though there are, of course, some exceptions. Take singer Alanis Morissette, who has one unique Christmas ritual: blowing out birthday candles with her baby boy Ever Imre, who was born on December 25, 2010. Find out how other celebrity families celebrate in surprisingly simple (and budget-friendly) ways. You might even get some new ideas for merry-making with your family!

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A-Caroling We Go

Odds are “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is at the top of your holiday playlist (or at least on repeat almost everywhere you go), but you don’t have to be Mariah to croon Christmas tunes. Take a page from mom Reese Witherspoon, who hosts a family caroling party leading up to the holiday. Your kids will get a kick out of serenading your friendly neighbors (or maybe just Grandma). And if your little ones are too young to go door-to-door, you can get a head start on this tradition by soothing them to sleep every night with your favorite festive tune. They’ll be singing along (probably with their own version of the lyrics) before you know it!

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Find the Right Material

The best thing about babies? They couldn’t care less about what’s under the tree. Comedic couple Cobie Smulders (of How I Met Your Mother) and Taran Killam (of SNL) confessed that on their cutie Shaelyn’s first Christmas, all she wanted was to play with the wrapping paper! So instead of splurging on presents for your pipsqueak, consider picking out a special object (like an ornament) that commemorates this milestone holiday. Even though the gift’s more for you than your young’un, wrap it so your little one has something to play with!

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Have a Festive Feast

Some of your favorite holiday memories probably revolve around food (latkes, anyone?). One snag: Cooking a major meal is an even bigger task when you have tiny tots underfoot. Try Jennifer Garner's advice ― yes, the star does her Christmas cooking herself ― and do as much prep as possible in the weeks leading up to the holiday. And when it comes time to make the big meal, it's more than okay to enlist some help. Jennifer passes her kids along to her favorite nanny ― Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel's grandma.

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Keep Some Things Sacred

Angelina Jolie and her globetrotting gaggle of kids are always on the move, but each year one thing stays the same: Angelina admits she’s obsessed with packing the perfect Christmas stocking and always searches for plenty of little presents to stuff her six kids’ socks. Hard to imagine this tough-girl actress doing anything traditional? Turns out she and Brad Pitt stay up all night on Christmas Eve getting ready for the big day with their even bigger family ― now, doesn’t that sound familiar?

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Have the Best of Both Worlds

While you may have spent your childhood Christmas Eves setting out a plate for Santa, your partner’s most loved ritual may have been lighting the menorah. Whatever your favorite family holiday traditions are, ‘tis the season for you both to pass them down to your tot. Go ahead and mix your beliefs into one hybrid holiday season. Movie star Gwyneth Paltrow, whose famous parents, Blythe Danner and Bruce Paltrow, were Christian and Jewish, loved growing up with both backgrounds so much that she’s raising her kids, Apple and Moses, the same way. Their December is packed with pastimes, from singing songs in Hebrew to sitting down for a massive Christmas feast. In fact, Gwynnie once summed up their celebrations as making cookies and eating too much (isn’t that every holiday?).

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Go Against Tradition Too!

Is your Christmas Eve dinner usually comprised of roast turkey, ham, and mashed potatoes? Consider switching up the cuisine ― it might make for a more memorable meal (who could forget the Chinese duck in A Christmas Story?). Father of three Tim McGraw says he’s never forgotten his mom’s unusual Christmas menu item: Italian-style pasta. In fact, he still cooks spaghetti and meatballs every Christmas Eve for his wife Faith Hill and their girls. So start brand-new traditions with your little ones now ― they may be old favorites by the time they grow up!

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